Summary

Chapter 7 opens with a description of Dr. Manford Rawls, the only doctor in town. When Manford heard about the twins, he decided it was worth a visit to the farm. Without asking, he gave the babies a vaccination, and told Elma and Juke that the twins of interest to the scientific community.

After the doctor left, Juke chastised Elma for letting him into the house. In response, Elma confronted Juke about her anger for covering for him and the fact that Wilson is Juke and Nan’s son, not Elma’s.

The narrator then describes the status quo at the Jesups, after Genus's death: Elma and Nan took care for the babies as a team, although Wilson would only drink Nan’s milk. Juke no longer raped Nan once she began sharing a room with Wilson.

Chapter 8 switches between Nan and Elma’s...